San Francisco cheers Batkid as he lives out superhero dream

1/20

Miles Scott waits in the Batmobile before thwarting a “robbery” in San Francisco. Miles has battled a very tough foe in his personal life: leukemia. After his cancer went into remission, the Make-A-Wish Foundation helped him become Batkid for a day.
(Gary Reyes / San Jose Mercury News)

2/20

The San Francisco Chronicle published a special edition of the Gotham City Chronicle in honor of 5-year-old Miles Scott. After demand for copies soared, Managing Editor Audrey Cooper said the paper would reprint a special edition.
(Associated Press)

3/20

Larry Baer, chief executive of the San Francisco Giants, and the team’s mascot, Lou Seal, escort Batkid to the outfield to see a special message on the scoreboard.
(Ramin Talaie / Getty Images)

4/20

The Penguin takes San Francisco Giants mascot Lou Seal hostage as leukemia survivor Miles Scott, 5, dressed as Batkid, and Batman give chase as part of a Make-A-Wish foundation wish fulfillment at AT&T Park in San Francisco.
(Ramin Talaie / Getty Images)

5/20

Miles Scott, a.k.a. Batkid, runs the bases as part of a Make-A-Wish foundation wish fulfillment at AT&T Park in San Francisco.
(Ramin Talaie / Getty Images)

6/20

Miles Scott is cheered by the crowd at City Hall in San Francisco.
(Gary Reyes / San Jose Mercury News)

7/20

A crowd cheers for 5-year-old Miles Scott, a.k.a. Batkid, as he arrives at City Hall in San Francisco.
(Gary Reyes / San Jose Mercury News)

8/20

Miles Scott, dressed as Batkid, leaves with Batman after thwarting the Riddler in San Francisco on Friday. San Francisco turned into Gotham City as city officials helped fulfill Miles’ wish to be “Batkid.” Miles, a Tulelake, Calif., boy whose leukemia is in remission, was called into service Friday morning by San Francisco Police Chief Greg Suhr to help fight crime, the Greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish Foundation says.
(Ramin Talaie / Getty Images)

Miles Scott, dressed as Batkid, right, runs with Batman after saving a damsel in distress in San Francisco.
(Jeff Chiu / Associated Press)

11/20

Miles Scott, dressed as Batkid, center, walks with Batman to save a damsel in distress on the cable car line in San Francisco.
(Jeff Chiu / Associated Press)

12/20

Miles Scott, dressed as Batkid, right, walks with Batman before saving a damsel in distress in San Francisco on Friday. San Francisco turned into Gotham City as city officials helped fulfill Miles’ wish to be “Batkid.” Miles, a Tulelake, Calif., boy whose leukemia is in remission, was called into service Friday morning by San Francisco Police Chief Greg Suhr to help fight crime, The Greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish Foundation says.
(Jeff Chiu / Associated Press)

13/20

Daniel Fry holds up his daughter Kayla, 5, as they wait for Miles Scott, a.k.a. “Batkid,” in San Francisco on Friday
(Jeff Chiu / Associated Press)

14/20

Miles Scott, a.k.a. “Batkid,” exits the Batmobile with Batman to save a damsel in distress in San Francisco on Friday.
(Jeff Chiu / Associated Press)

15/20

San Francisco police escorts Batkid.
(Ramin Talaie / Getty Images)

16/20

Miles Scott, a.k.a. BatKid, exits his cave at Union Square in an improvised Batmobile in San Francisco.
(Ramin Talaie / Getty Images)

Crowds gather in front of a former bank vault waiting for 5-year-old leukemia survivor Miles Scott, a.k.a. BatKid in San Francisco.
(Ramin Talaie / Getty Images)

20/20

This undated image released by Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area, shows 5-year-old Miles Scott dressed as Batkid. With the help of the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the city of San Francisco, Miles rescued a woman from cable car tracks and captured the evil Riddler as he robbed a downtown bank.
(Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area)

All eyes were on “Gotham” Friday as San Francisco’s Batkid -- a 5-year-old boy battling leukemia -- lived out his dream of being a superhero, taking to the streets to save the city from the likes of the Riddler and the Penguin.

Nearly 12,000 volunteers and adoring fans holding signs crowded streets for the full-on transformation of the city so Miles, who has been battling lymphoblastic leukemia since he was 20 months old, could spend the day with Batman at his side.

Coordinated by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the effort was complete with a Batmobile, a personal call from Police Chief Greg Suhr asking for help, and staged rescue scenes involving villains the Riddler and Penguin.

After freeing Riddler’s hostage, Batkid was off to AT&T Park where -- as a flash mob involving hundreds of people in Union Square alerted the 5-year-old -- the Penguin had kidnapped Lou Seal, the San Francisco Giants mascot.

That was after a quick bite to eat with Batman.

San Francisco resident Sara Sanchez, who heard about BatKid on Facebook, came decked out with a huge sign that read “SF <3 Batkid.” She said the energy in “Gotham” rivaled the two parades celebrating the San Francisco Giants’ World Series victories she attended.

“Seeing the city come out in support, it makes you really proud to live in a city like this,” she said.

Advertisement

Batkid’s adventures captured the hearts of residents and transfixed the nation on social media.

The San Francisco Chronicle announced it would reprint a special edition of the Gotham City Chronicle, which were to be handed out in Union Square, after demand for copies soared, Audrey Cooper, managing editor of the Chronicle, told The Times.

“This is what I love about San Francisco,” Cooper said by email. “We’re a quirky city that loves freethinkers. We totally understand a 5-year-old cancer survivor who wants to dress up like Batman.”

California politicians, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco and East Bay Rep. Eric Swalwell, called on Miles and commended his bravery. Standing on the steps of the Capitol in Washington, Swalwell recorded a personal video message to Batkid, saying he would be flying home to a hopefully safe Bay Area that evening.

“Batkid, Gotham city in California needs help,” he said. “We’re all counting on you, Batkid, to use your superhero powers to protect our city.”

After rescuing Lou Seal at AT&T Park, Batkid was to be presented with a key to the city during a presentation at City Hall.

Not long after the organization began making plans, thousands of volunteers had signed up to cheer on Batkid. The mayor, police chief and local media also got in on the action, turning it into a citywide spectacle.

Advertisement

Teary-eyed tweets praising the city’s efforts poured onto social media Friday, and even President Obama lent his support to the pint-size superhero: